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Department of Dance
Hartwell Hall
(585) 395-2153
Chairperson and Professor: Darwin Prioleau; Professor: Jacqueline Davis; Associate Professors: Diane McGhee, Clyde W. Morgan, Juanita Suarez, Wallie Wolfgruber; Assistant Professors: James Hansen; Visiting Professor (Guest Artist): Bill Evans; Professional Staff: Sandra Cain, Gregory H. Ketchum, Khalid Saleem, Christian Tucker.
SUNY Brockport is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance, and offers the most broadly based dance degree programs in the SUNY system.
Undergraduates with a strong foundation of dance training are able to participate in the program by auditioning to enroll as dance minors or majors in the BA, BS or BFA programs. Highly skilled dancers or choreographers who have already earned undergraduate degrees in dance can audition for acceptance in the MA and MFA programs. Additionally, the department serves a large number of students with varying backgrounds in dance through courses that fulfill General Education requirements.
SUNY Brockport is recognized for its strong liberal arts education. Strengths of the program include professional-level technical instruction and numerous opportunities to create choreography for presentation in both formal and informal departmental productions. Additionally, students regularly perform in original and repertory works created by full-time faculty and guest artists. These experiences prepare students for a wide range of professional careers in dance or to continue their educations in graduate school. Through the active permanent faculty, guest artists, company residencies, the contemporary dance ensemble DANSCORE and the African dance and drum ensemble Sankofa, students are able to make important connections to the professional dance world and explore both traditional and cutting-edge aesthetics. These creative opportunities combined with a range of courses in theory, history, production and technology, provide a broad understanding of dance as a performing art.
Students also have the opportunity to study abroad. The Office of International Education provides information about dance programs in Jamaica, Ghana, England and other countries.
Programs in Dance:
- BA or BS degree in dance studies (often coupled with a second major)
- BFA in dance
- BA or BS with a major in arts for children and specialty in dance
- Minor in dance
- MA in dance
- MFA in dance
- MA with PreK-12 dance teacher certification
Required Auditions
All students wishing to major or minor in dance must pass a department audition and then complete DNS 204 and 205, prerequisites for other required courses in the
dance major. DNS 204 and 205 are offered only in the fall. Students may enroll in
elective dance courses prior to successful completion of the audition process. Three auditions are held each year; check the department Web site at www.brockport.edu/dance or contact the Department of Dance at (585) 395-2153 for audition dates and information.
Students may begin the dance major or minor as freshmen, sophomores or juniors. As a rule, BA/BS dance major and dance minor requirements can be completed during two academic years. The BA/BS dance major requires 35 (out of 120) credits; up to 19 additional elective dance credits may be taken to meet degree requirements. Many dance majors also complete requirements for minors or a second major in another discipline.
The BFA dance major requires 85 specified credits in dance (out of 120) and emphasizes professional preparation for performance-related careers. It is a rigorous program that requires a high level of proficiency and commitment. Entering freshmen must complete at least one semester of BA/BS study before application for the BFA audition is permitted. Transfer students can be reviewed for acceptance into the BFA program during the departmental entrance audition.
Note to transfer students: Transfer credits in dance are usually accepted as dance electives. A maximum of 18 credits may be transferred into the BA/BS dance major and 42 into the BFA.
Careful planning of course sequences and consultation with faculty advisors is essential for all programs. Assignment to appropriate dance technique levels is based on a placement examination given each semester.
Major Requirements BA/BS in Dance
| Number | Dance Technique (12 credits) | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DNS 204 | Dance Conditioning Lab | 2 |
| DNS 205 | Dance Technique I | 3 |
| and a minimum of seven credits from the following: | ||
| DNS 245 | Dance Technique II(*) | 3 |
| DNS 345 | Dance Technique III(*) | 3 |
| DNS 445 | Dance Technique IV(*) | 3 |
| DNS 253 | Beginning Ballet 1 | 1-4 |
| DNS 353 | Intermediate Ballet1 | 1-4 |
| DNS 453 | Advanced Ballet1 | 1-4 |
| DNS 330 | African Dance II | 3 |
| DNS 433 | African Dance III | 3 |
| DNS 454(*2) | Dance Styles | 1-4 |
|
*A repeatable course number for dance technique. *2 A repeatable course number for
musical theater, jazz, tap and special topics. |
||
| Choreography: | 5 | |
| DNS 208 | Dance Production Practicum | 0 |
| DNS 364 | Dance Improvisation | 2 |
| DNS 306(*) | Beginning Dance Composition | 3 |
| * DNS 205, MUS 300, and DNS 364 are prerequisites for DNS 306. | ||
| Theory: | 12 | |
| DNS 206 | 20th-century Dance: Issues and Styles | 3 |
| OR | ||
| DNS 316 | History and Development of Dance | |
| MUS 300 | Music for Dance | 3 |
| MUS 420 | Music Literature for Dance | 3 |
| DNS 305* | Kinesiology | 3 |
| OR | ||
| DNS 375 | Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis | |
| *BIO 221 is a prerequisite for DNS 305 and can be used as a Knowledge area requirement. | ||
| Electives: | 6 | |
| Upper-division dance electives selected by advisement | 6 | |
| Total: | 35 | |
Grades of “C” or better are required in all 35 dance major credits.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (BFA)
Dance Technique (29 credits)
Must complete at least two semesters of DNS 445 Dance Technique IV and two semesters
advanced-level study in one or two other forms.
| Number | Class | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DNS 204 | Dance Conditioning Lab | 2 |
| DNS 205 | Dance Technique I | 3 |
| and 24 credits selected from the following: | ||
| DNS 245 | Dance Technique II(*) | 3 |
| DNS 345 | Dance Technique III(*) | 3 |
| DNS 445 | Dance Technique IV(*) | 3 |
| DNS 253 | Beginning Ballet 1 | 1-4 |
| DNS 353 | Intermediate Ballet1 | 1-4 |
| DNS 453 | Advanced Ballet1 | 1-4 |
| DNS 330 | African Dance II | 3 |
| DNS 433 | African Dance III | 3 |
| DNS 454(*2) | Dance Styles | 1-4 |
|
1Repeatable course numbers for ballet. |
||
| Choreography and Performance | 20 | |
| DNS 364 | Dance Improvisation | 2 |
| DNS 306* | Beginning Dance Composition | 3 |
| DNS 430 | Intermediate Dance Composition | 3 |
| DNS 424 | Dance Repertory and Literature I | 3 |
| DNS 425 | Dance Repertory and Literature II | 3 |
| DNS 427 | Dance Performance Techniques | 3 |
| DNS 457 | Danscore | 3 |
| OR | ||
| DNS 489-491 | Sankofa | |
| * DNS 205, MUS 300, and DNS 364 are prerequisites for DNS 306. | ||
| Music for Dance: | 6 | |
| MUS 300 | Music for Dance | 3 |
| MUS 420 | Music Literature for Dance | 3 |
| History and Movement Theory: | 15 | |
| DNS 206 | 20th-century Dance: Issues and Styles | 3 |
| DNS 316 | History and Development of Dance | 3 |
| DNS 375 | Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis | 3 |
| DNS 3051 | Kinesiology | 3 |
| DNS 315 | Dynamic Balance | 3 |
| OR | ||
| DNS 461 | Labanotation DNS 305* Kinesiology | 3 |
| DNS 315 | Dynamic Balance | 3 |
| OR | ||
| DNS 452 | Somatics | |
| OR | ||
| DNS 480 | Dance Science and Injury Prevention | |
| *BIO 221 is a prerequisite for DNS 305 and can be used as a Knowledge Area requirement. | ||
| Dance Production: | 3 | |
| DNS 207 | Dance Production | 3 |
| DNS 208 | Dance Production Practicum | 0 |
| Seminar: | 3 | |
| DNS 495 | Senior Seminar in Dance | 3 |
| Electives: | 9 | |
| Any upper-division dance courses. THE 221 Acting I and ART 212 3-Dimensional Design may also be used. | ||
| Total: | 85 | |
Grades of “C” or better are required in all 85 dance major credits.
The BFA in Dance requires completion of all General Education credits in addition to the 85-credit dance major. A student who meets the General Education requirements with fewer than 35 credits may select any non-dance electives. Except for one Fine Arts Knowledge Area course, no DNS courses may be used. This policy is intended to insure breadth of experience within the BFA. A student who takes additional dance courses will graduate with more than the required minimum 120 credits.
Minor in Dance
Students may declare a dance minor on a contractual basis only. The minor is
18 credits in dance selected with departmental advisement. An audition is required
for entrance into the dance minor program, and courses must include DNS 205 and one
additional semester of dance technique. Contact the department for information about
the audition.
Interdisciplinary Arts for Children: Dance Specialty
Students seeking an interdisciplinary major in Arts for Children with a specialty in dance are required to complete a 48-credit program consisting of: (1) two interdisciplinary courses, IAC 280 Introduction to Related Arts for Children, and IAC 491 Seminar in Arts for Children; (2) a dance specialty of 21 credits; and (3) a 21-credit block consisting of two courses in each of the other three arts and one approved elective. Students wishing to major in Arts for Children with a dance specialty should contact the Department of Dance for information about the required entrance audition. A minimum grade of “C” must be maintained in all required courses.
For detailed information and a comprehensive listing of courses required in this specialty area, refer to the section Arts for Children-Interdisciplinary Major in this catalog.
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